True Crime Connections ~ Advocacy Podcast

⚠️ Trigger Warning: Violence, murder, prison gangs Most people think they know the story of Diane Whipple. They remember the fatal dog attack. But according to bestselling true crime author and investigative journalist Aphrodite Jones, this case was never really about the dogs. In this episode, Aphrodite joins me to discuss her new book, Dog O' War, and the shocking prison connection behind o...

⚠️ Trigger Warning: Child abuse, trauma, coercive control What happens when survivors speak up... only to be dismissed, discredited, or made to question their own reality? In this episode, Cynthia and I explore a painful truth many survivors know too well: the fight to be believed. This conversation examines trauma, memory, credibility, and the lasting impact of having your voice questioned or you...

⚠️ Trigger Warning: Childhood abuse, sexual abuse, trauma  What happens when a child speaks up… and no one listens?  In this episode, I talk with survivor Cheryl Hauk, who lived through years of abuse—and silence. She told people as a child. Nothing changed. She even went to court as an adult… and still didn’t get justice. What happens when the system fails you… Your family stays silent… and the p...

⚠️ Trigger Warning: Violence, domestic abuse, murder What happens when the people who love you… are scared of you? In this episode, we talk about something most people don’t see—families who are afraid to bail out their own loved ones. Not because of money… but because they’re scared of what might happen if they come home. Bail attorney Ken W. Good breaks down how bail works, what bail reform mean...

⚠️ Trigger Warning: Emotional abuse, manipulation Why do we miss red flags… even when they’re right in front of us? In this episode, I sit down with Justin Smith , creator of the dating safety app CRAY, as he shares his story of betrayal after an 8-year relationship. He thought he was careful. Guarded. Smart.  But even he didn’t see it coming. This conversation will help you understand why we igno...

⚠️ Trigger Warning: Emotional abuse, manipulation, fraud Heather Rovet thought she had found love. Instead… she found a conman. He was charming. Attentive. Everything she thought she wanted. But behind the scenes, he was lying, stealing, and living a completely different life. This episode shows how easy it is to get pulled in—and why it’s not your fault. If you’ve ever ignored your gut… or questi...

Most people know about the 988 Suicide Line. But almost no one knows there’s another number you can call when someone is on the brink of committing mass violence. In this powerful conversation, Tiffanie sits down with Sean Cononie , founder of the Rage Hotline (also called the “No Shoot Line”), to talk about how early intervention can stop mass shootings before they happen. Sean explains the warni...

What if raising emotionally strong kids started with healing yourself? In this episode, Family & Child Counsellor Jacintha Field shares how she transformed the chaos of solo parenting, trauma recovery, and pandemic overwhelm into Happy Souls Kids — a global movement that helps children regulate their emotions through storytelling, play, and real-life role models. ✅ Learn how to help your chil...

Behind the bright lights of Hollywood was a little girl in pain. Hilary Momberger-Powers—once the voice of Sally Brown in the Peanuts cartoons—grew up in chaos, addiction, and abuse. But after hitting rock bottom, she found recovery, faith, and purpose. Now, over 40 years sober, she’s helping others break free from trauma and old belief systems that keep them stuck. In this powerful conversation,...

When Terry Garza was just 20 years old, her world was shattered. The father of her daughter went on a violent rampage, killing his mother, nearly killing his brother, and stealing a police car to flee. In the chaos that followed, Terry had to pick up the pieces — as a young single mom, survivor, and woman determined to turn her pain into purpose. In this raw and powerful conversation, Terry opens...

Financial abuse is one of the most common — and least talked about — forms of control. It keeps victims trapped, isolated, and questioning their worth. This week, Amanda Scott joins me to pull back the curtain on 17 years of emotional and financial abuse inside her marriage. She shares how control slowly became her “normal,” why victims often don’t recognize the signs until it’s too late, and the...

What if writing could help you heal what you don’t have words for? Nadine Ellis is an autistic poet, late-diagnosed and long-dismissed. She’s a survivor of childhood trauma, emotional abuse, and being told she'd “never amount to anything.” But instead of staying silent, she picked up a pen—and never stopped writing. In this conversation, Nadine opens up about: Being bullied at school and misu...

What if the abuse you went through… started generations before you? And what if no one ever showed you a healthy version of love? In this episode, therapist and survivor Sophora Acheson shares her raw, personal story—from being raised by a violent father in a biker gang, to surviving a toxic relationship that ended in blood and jail, to now leading one of the country’s top trauma recovery nonprofi...

At just three years old, Avonley Lightstone tried to save her mother from a house fire — but lost her. Shortly after, her father gave her up for adoption, and she endured years of emotional and physical abuse in a home where love felt conditional. But her story doesn’t end in pain — it rises in faith. In this powerful conversation, Avonley shares how she turned tragedy into testimony, writing her...

Rosario Chico is a DHS insider, whistleblower, and mother—now facing criminal charges for trying to protect her kids. After reporting abuse, getting a protective order, and being told by DHS to seek emergency custody, Rosario fled for safety… only to be arrested and labeled a kidnapper. Why? Because of one powerful player in her case: the guardian ad litem. A woman Rosario, says lied under oath, h...

In 1949, Norman and Anne Browne were enjoying retirement in the peaceful beach town of Crystal Beach, Florida. Until one morning, a stranger returned to their home with a shotgun in his hand and secrets nobody saw coming. In this episode, Tiffanie sits down with author Michael Gross , whose book MADMAN uncovers the twisted true story of John “Rastus” Russell —a charming man with movie star looks a...

What if the person you trusted as a spiritual guide turned out to be the reason you lost yourself? In this gripping episode, Andrew-Ryan Profaci shares his harrowing experience inside the 'Love Has Won' cult, where he lived as 'Father God' under the control of Amy Carlson, known as 'Mother God.'  From overcoming addiction and surviving stage four cancer to being manip...

At just 14, Morgan Scafe was caught in a web of betrayal, abuse, and silence, handpicked by her best friend's family to endure unthinkable trauma. With nowhere to turn, she wrote an anonymous note that sparked a seven-year battle for justice, resulting in a high-stakes courtroom showdown.   Morgan shares her journey from victim to advocate, the flaws in the justice system, and the urgent need...

When Lt. JG Burr Johnson III was murdered aboard a U.S. Navy ship in Pearl Harbor, his daughter was just two years old. The government went silent. The killer disappeared. And for over 30 years, no answers came. In this powerful true crime episode, Allicia Johnson Niles shares her journey to uncover the truth behind her father’s death—revealing a shocking military cover-up, emotional trauma from u...

Alan Katz carried a devastating secret for 45 years — even from himself. At 14, he was sexually abused twice by the religious director of his synagogue. The trauma buried itself deep, quietly poisoning his confidence, self-worth, and ability to connect with others… until it nearly cost him his life. In this powerful conversation, Alan shares how he confronted his past, survived a near-suicide, and...

When Kristen Louise Duncombe was just 10 years old, her life changed forever. The man who abused her wasn’t hiding in the shadows — William Francis Mulcahy, a senior U.S. diplomat with diplomatic immunity, protected by the very government sworn to uphold justice. Even after multiple victims came forward, he kept his job, his freedom, and access to children. Kristen recounts the insidious grooming...

Why does healing hurt so much? Why do we repeat painful patterns—even when we know better? This week, I sit down with Jasmina Sabi , author of Am I Thinking Correctly? , who opens up about surviving childhood trauma, becoming an escort, and the deep betrayal that broke her open. We talk about how your brain chemistry (dopamine, cortisol, serotonin) shapes your decisions—even when you're unawa...

Paul Hutchinson’s story is the one that inspired the movie Sound of Freedom, but the truth is much deeper—and the fight is far from over. In this gripping episode, Paul takes us through over 70 life-risking undercover missions to rescue children from human traffickers. While the movie sparked global awareness, Paul reveals that the reality of human trafficking is still a growing crisis that demand...

Did you know your brain can only hold 7–8 things at once? That’s why even the most loving parent can make one fatal mistake—and forget their child in the car. In this powerful and emotional episode, Tiffanie speaks with Michael Israel , co-founder of CleverElly, a company built by tech dads who wanted to save lives. Michael explains the terrifying reality of hot car deaths, the simple science behi...

What happens when the people meant to protect you become the source of your pain, and the system designed to save you only adds more trauma?   Adriene Caldwell shares her powerful story of growing up in foster care, surviving emotional and physical abuse, and witnessing unimaginable pain. But what begins as a tale of betrayal turns into a story of hope. Adriene later learns that her mother, once v...