WHEN DATING HURTS

The following story comes with trigger warnings due to both its content and graphic descriptions. This is part one of a two-part story. Beany Chalfant brought her story to me in an email. I knew she needed to tell her narrative to us. By the time she reached 40, she had never been close to intimate partner violence. But all of that changed with one boyfriend. In the beginning, he seemed to bring e...

This is part two of a two-part story with Claire. It comes with trigger warnings for its content and graphic descriptions. I was sent a link with a news segment from the West Coast. The newscasters were showing body cam footage of an intimate partner violence case that would later head into court. The footage was eerie to watch. It puts you right there outside of the building watching a man deny k...

This is part one of a two-part story with Claire. It comes with trigger warnings for its content and graphic descriptions. I was sent a link with a news segment from the West Coast. The newscasters were showing body cam footage of an intimate partner violence case that would later head into court. The footage was eerie to watch. It puts you right there outside of the building watching a man deny k...

This is part two of Cynthia’s two-part story of survival. It comes with trigger warnings due to its content and some descriptions. You will feel her innocence throughout. She is a trusting soul and sometimes it has gotten her into places that are impossible to escape. Trouble often seemed to follow. Cynthia is not perfect. She has made mistakes. But it seems most of her mistakes have cost her dear...

I was asked by Dan Woerheide to join him on his Narrowing the Divide podcast. This podcast series is actually Dan working as a career coach, but he feels everyone working needs to know more about dating abuse and domestic violence. It will eventually touch every life. I appreciate Dan for inviting me to speak on his show. It's a new audience for me to tell what I know about domestic violence. We c...

This is part one of Cynthia’s two-part story of survival. It comes with trigger warnings due to its content and some descriptions. You will feel her innocence throughout. She is a trusting soul and sometimes it has gotten her into places that are impossible to escape. Trouble often seemed to follow. Cynthia is not perfect. She has made mistakes. But it seems most of her mistakes have cost her dear...

This is part two of a two-part story. It comes with trigger warnings due to its content and descriptions. Alexandra story begins in Australia, where she was born and where we meet up with Michael. He was an artist and a narcissistic abuser. The kind of a guy we lie awake at night hoping our daughters never meet up with or date. The story takes us from Australia to Vienna, Austria and then to Polan...

This is part one of a two-part story. It comes with trigger warnings due to its content and descriptions. Alexandra story begins in Australia, where she was born and where we meet up with Michael. He was an artist and a narcissistic abuser. The kind of a guy we lie awake at night hoping our daughters never meet up with or date. The story takes us from Australia to Vienna, Austria and then to Polan...

This is part two of a two-part story. Deborah’s story takes us to places many of us have never been before. She spent time in the US Navy and then the US Army. We go to Virginia, California, Kentucky, and even Afghanistan before her return to the US. Before heading into Afghanistan with the US Army, Deborah meets Scott, who does a brilliant portrayal of being everyone’s best buddy while winning ov...

This is part one of a two-part story. Deborah’s story takes us to places many of us have never been before. She spent time in the US Navy and then the US Army. We go to Virginia, California, Kentucky, and even Afghanistan before her return to the US. Before heading into Afghanistan with the US Army, Deborah meets Scott, who does a brilliant portrayal of being everyone’s best buddy while winning ov...

Every survivor story comes with reasons to listen carefully and learn the many facets of dating and domestic violence. This story is certainly no exception. For those of you thinking domestic violence doesn’t happen to people like you, Jamie’s narrative stands as evidence to the contrary. She was a college graduate. A law school graduate. And then a prosecutor in a district attorney’s office near...

Every survivor story comes with reasons to listen carefully and learn the many facets of dating and domestic violence. This story is certainly no exception. For those of you thinking domestic violence doesn’t happen to people like you, Jamie’s narrative stands as evidence to the contrary. She was a college graduate. A law school graduate. And then a prosecutor in a district attorney’s office near...

I met "Caitlyn" in November 2009 moments before I gave a speech about my daughter's dating violence murder.  What Caitlyn described about her abuse was the most horrific story I had ever heard -- short of murder. It continues to disturb me even now.  I was fortunate to conduct this interview with Caitlyn. Her story shows how bad domestic violence can get, but also demonstrates how strong a determi...

This the final part in a three-part story. Sarah’s story of abuse starts off a bit slow but then it really gets rolling. It covers many of the warning signs (red flags) of what became an unhealthy relationship, and later, and awkward, disrespectful, one-sided, abusive marriage. Plus, there were children involved. Sarah somehow managed to stay true to herself. She never became as awful as the behav...

This is part two in a three-part story. Sarah’s story of abuse starts off a bit slow but then it really gets rolling. It covers many of the warning signs (red flags) of what became an unhealthy relationship, and later, and awkward, disrespectful, one-sided, abusive marriage. Plus, there were children involved. Sarah somehow managed to stay true to herself. She never became as awful as the behavior...

This is part one in a three-part story. Sarah’s story of abuse starts off a bit slow but then it really gets rolling. It covers many of the warning signs (red flags) of what became an unhealthy relationship, and later, and awkward, disrespectful, one-sided, abusive marriage. Plus, there were children involved. Sarah somehow managed to stay true to herself. She never became as awful as the behavior...

This is Lee Ann’s story part two of two parts. Our interview with Lee Ann, who lives in Florida, covers a lot of dating and domestic violence topics. You’ll hear about love bombing, overt narcissism, emotional and physical violence, and the rise and fall of a fortune made and lost. There is coercive control, deception, even degradation. You will also hear of the deaths of two ex-husbands. It’s all...

This is Lee Ann’s story part one of two parts. Our interview with Lee Ann, who lives in Florida, covers a lot of dating and domestic violence topics. You’ll hear about love bombing, overt narcissism, emotional and physical violence, and the rise and fall of a fortune made and lost. There is coercive control, deception, even degradation. You will also hear of the deaths of two ex-husbands. It’s all...

This time, I'm the one being interviewed.  This conversation tells the whole story about how the WHEN DATING HURTS book and podcast came about--the hard way. It's good to know our podcast has the opportunity to be talked about before a whole-new group of listeners. This is one of the surest ways to grow our listening audience. If you do not know my family's story, this is a good opportunity. Thank...

This episode comes with content and trigger warnings: Domestic abuse, domestic violence, and graphic violence. The voice you hear on this WHEN DATING HURTS Podcast episode was created by artificial intelligence. It is not a real person's voice. The words spoken are a composite of beliefs and concepts expressed by dating and domestic abusers found within articles and interviews. They have been coll...

This is part two in a two-part story.   At 16-years of age, Marie and a few high school friends went to a local university to hang out at some social events. That’s where she met Jake. Jake was a 21-year-old college student with aspirations of playing football. But injuries took that dream away from him. Instead, he used opioids and other means to deal with pain. In truth, he was addicted but said...

This is part one in a two-part story. At 16-years of age, Marie and a few high school friends went to a local university to hang out at some social events. That’s where she met Jake. Jake was a 21-year-old college student with aspirations of playing football. But injuries took that dream away from him. Instead, he used opioids and other means to deal with pain. In truth, he was addicted but said h...

This is the second in a two-part story with Erin. Erin was taken advantage of while she was suffering through a highly sensitive passage in her life. Charlie presented himself as the right answer at the right time. Like many victims, she was an innocent, generous person. The kind of target predators are looking to lure straight into problematic relationships. The warning signs of potential danger...

This is the first in a two-part story with Erin.  Erin was taken advantage of while she was suffering through a highly sensitive passage in her life. Charlie presented himself as the right answer at the right time.  Like many victims, she was an innocent, generous person. The kind of target predators are looking to lure straight into problematic relationships.  The warning signs of potential dange...

This is part one of two parts with Amanda.   This interview comes with all the trigger warnings. Amanda lives in Australia, but her story could have taken place anywhere in the world. The treatment Amanda and her twin sister (named J.J.) received as babies continued into their teen years. It is shocking, disturbing, inhumane, and, frankly, impossible to comprehend. But it is true, nonetheless. Thi...